Current WBC, WBO, and WBA super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez may be set to face a fellow champion in the 168lbs division.
The Mexican was ordered to fight the champion in 2024 as a mandatory title defense – but ‘Canelo’ refused and was stripped of his IBF title.
However, as Alvarez looks to build on his win over Edgar Berlanga in September of 2024, talks are currently being held to figure out the fighter’s next challenge.
His win in September now means that Alvarez boasts an impressive 62-2 record and a five-fight winning streak since his loss to Dmitry Bivol.
Super middleweight unification bout could be next for Canelo Alvarez
As Canelo Alvarez currently holds three of the four super middleweight world titles, there is one other fighter who can call themselves champion of the division.
Current IBF super middleweight champion William Scull (23-0) won the belt in October 2024, when he fought for the vacant title that Alvarez was stripped of. Defeating Vladimir Shishkin in a somewhat controversial unanimous decision, the Cuban reveals he is in talks to face Alvarez in a unification bout.
William Scull has said that on January 10th, both his and Canelo’s team will sit down to discuss a potential bout between the pair in 2025. However, the Cuban stated that offers to three different boxers had been sent out.
Speaking to Punos Cubanos, Scull said, “The truth is that there are three offers: to Berlanga, to Canelo, and at the time there was talk of [Christian] Mbilli but I think that was left behind because the offer was not very good”.
“That will be a good fight for me [with Canelo] to continue dreaming and continue making history.”
Terrence Crawford remains an option for Canelo Alvarez
In what would be a boxing super-fight, Terence Crawford may also be in the pipeline to face Canelo Alvarez.
Crawford is the current WBO interim world super welterweight champion, however, has expressed interest in facing Alvarez.
Speaking with influential boxing figure Turki Alalshihk, Crawford said on an Instagram livestream, “Yo Turki, tell them we are going for Canelo next.”
Alalshihk, also in favor of the bout, responded: “Yes, let’s go! Canelo, come on. We are ready.”
Fighting currently two weight classes below the Mexican, Crawford has said that he would make the move to 168lbs for the super-fight. However, this would be a significant move for the 41-0 Crawford, who has only competed at super welterweight (154lbs) once and has mostly fought at welterweight (147lbs).
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